The Annapurna circuit which was rated as one of the great treks in the world has now become truncated due to road construction on both sides. However, a visit to Manang, Ice Lake, Tilicho and the Grand Barriere and the crossing of Thorung la pass is still a worthwhile objective with stupendous views. Hence with a short itinerary it is still highly recommended.
The trek starts at around 2800 metres and goes as high as 5416 metres! The days are well planned to ensure that you walk shorter days for proper acclimatization with a number of rest days thrown in.
Who should join this trek?
A good choice for regular hill walkers, high level of fitness required. Prior trekking experience advisable.
1) Walking times: average 6-7 hours walking per day (with some longer days Throung Phedi to Muktinath 9-10 hours) with some rest days included.
2) Altitude: up to 5,416m at Thorung la.
3) Terrain: for some of the time following well-travelled trails although also likely to encounter rough and rocky conditions. There is a steep ascent to Thorung la which could be snow covered. Tilicho also has rough sections on the trail.
4) Remoteness: the trek is in a remote mountain area and a long distance from the roadhead and the nearest cities. However mobile phones and wifi will work on most of the days.
5) High altitude insurance including emergency evacuation insurance by helicopter is recommended for this trek.
Trek Leader - The trek will be led by a senior South Col Nepal guide.
Minimum group size is four for this trek
BRIEF ITINERARY - 14 DAYS
Day 1 Kathmandu to Besisahar 6 to 7 hours to Syanje by road if possible 3 hours.
Drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar in micro bus with support team and onto Syanje if possible
Day 2 Besisahar/Syanje to Chame 2700 metres
Drive up to Chame and reach by afternoon - Stay the night at lodge in Chame for acclimatization.
Day 3 Chame to Pisang 6 to 7 hours walk
Day 4 Pisang 3200m to Ngawal 3640m to Manang 3540m by the high route
Pisang to Ghyaru 2 hrs 15min Ghyaru to Ngawal 2 hrs 15 min Ngawal to Braga 2 hrs 15 min Braga to Manang 40 min
Day 5 Acclimatisation day in Manang – visit Gangapurna ice lake for day acclimatization walk.
Day 6 Manang 3540m to Khangsar 3730m 3 hours
Day 7 Khangsar 3730m to Tilicho Base Camp 4150m
Khangsar to Siri Kharka 2 hours Siri Kharka to Tilicho Base Camp 3 hours
Day 8 Tilicho Base Camp 4150m to Tilicho Lake 5019m and down to Siri Kharka 4060m
Tilicho Base Camp to lake 3.5 to 4 hours and back to Tilicho Base Camp 2 hours; Tilicho Base Camp to Siri Kharka 2 hrs.
Day 9 Siri Kharka 4060m to Yak Kharka 4040m
Siri Khola to Yak Kharka 4 to 5 hours.
Day 10 Yak Kharka 4040m to Thorung Phedi 4450m or Thorung High Camp 4833m
Yak Kharka to Ledar 1.5 hour; Ledar to Thorung Phedi 2 hrs; Phedi to High Camp 1 hour
Day 11 Thorung Phedi 4450m to Throung la 5416m to Muktinath 3672m
Thorung Phedi to High Camp 1 hour High Camp to Thorung la 4 hours Thorung la to Muktinath 4 to 4.5 hours.
Day 12 Mutkinath to to Jomsom 2720m - This is a one hour drive by jeep or a six hour walk back along on the Kali Gandaki.
Day 13 Jomsom 2720m to Pokhara 800m by flight - The 30 minute morning flight between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges above the spectacular Kali Gandaki gorge brings to you to back to Pokhara and the end of the trek. Night at Pokhara
Day 14 Pokhara to Kathmandu by morning flight 9 am and then onto home destinations.
Dates will be intimated soon depending on the covid 19 pandemic Costs on request please email [email protected] for an estimate
Costs include: Private transport Kathmandu to Besisahar to Chame on the way up. All permits for the trek including ACAP and TIMS. Two internal flights Jomsom to Pokhara on ($124) and Pokhara to Kathmandu ($123). All accommodation on the trek on twin sharing basis – Best possible lodges will be provided as available with attached toilets wherever available. Dedicated English speaking guide with knowledge of the Annapurna region and porters for bags will be provided. Transport of guide and porter from Jomsom to Pokhara to Kathmandu All meals and accommodation of guide and porter is included. In the cost Hotel is included with breakfast on twin sharing basis in Kathmandu for 2 nights and Pokhara for one night. Costs not included Breakfast lunch and dinner on the trek is not included. Desserts, drinks, and exotic items listed in the lodge menus are not included. Alcohol, cold drinks (coca cola, sprite, beer), juices, ice cream etc on the trek. Bottled drinks; boiled, filtered or bottled water; alcohol; snacks etc Client travel and medical insurance of any kind. Emergency evacuation costs if needed. Hot showers (Rs 200-300 per shower); Personal clothing and equipment; sleeping bag; down/ goretek jacket, medicines for personal use etc. Air fare from residence country to Nepal and back Tips to porters and guide at the end of trek. Budget USD 70 per trekker for tips to the common pool.
| ITEMS | REMARKS | |
| Duffle Bag | All the equipment listed below other than what you need for the day should be packed into a duffle bag, locked and handed over to the porters in the morning. In case you cannot get a duffle bag in your home country these are available very cheap in Kathmandu and I can help you with this. The duffle bag should not weight more than 10 kgs! | |
| 1 | Sleeping Bag | Warm sleeping bag is needed at least three season rated to 15F |
| 2 | Daypack or Hipbelt | To carry water, one jacket some nuts, chocolates, cap, camera to keep with you in the day, maybe gloves and cap as well, hiking poles etc. |
| 3 | Boots or Trekking Shoes | one pair |
| 4 | Slippers or Sandals for camp | lightweight to wear in the evenings |
| 5 | warm Socks | 2 pairs to carry and one pair to wear |
| 6 | Gloves | one pair |
| 7 | Underwear | 1 to wear and 2 to carry |
| 8 | Warm Cap | one- Wool or fleece is usually good |
| 9 | Heavy jacket | the warmest you can get as nights and early mornings are cold - down is usually preferred otherwise a warm synthetic filled jacket. |
| 10 | Thermal Underwear ( top and bottom) - long johns | inner layer to wear at night and early morning ; |
| 11 | Mid Layer | Usually a jacket of fleece or wool which can be worn over a thermal layer or by itself while walking |
| 12 | T shirts for walking | one to wear and 2 to carry - if the sun is hot you can walk in a T shirt |
| 13 | Trousers /tights etc | one to wear and one to carry light weight preferred |
| 14 | One Rain Jacket /Wind Jacket/Soft Shell jacket | useful in case of wind ... you may need it in light rain though we would usually take shelter and wait for the rain to stop. Our trek is not in the rainy season though some light rain/snow in the late afternoon evenings cannot be ruled out. |
| 15 | Torch or headlamp | one small needed carry one set spare batteries |
| 16 | Sun bloc | one small tube should be ok spf 30 or 50 |
| 17 | some essential medicines | vitamins, headache, fever, pain killers, diamox for altitude, your own specific medicines etc |
| 18 | Hiking poles | if you have bad knees then this is recommended especially on the down hills!! |
| 19 | Water bottle | one no 500 ml or 1 litre is ok you can use the 500 or 600 ml empty coke or pepis bottles |
| 20 | Sun glasses | the sun is strong in the day |
| 21 | Cap for the sun | ditto! |
| 22 | small towel | for baths and wash up in case you can use the hot shower |
| 23 | toothbrush, paste, soap, shampoo, vaseline, comb | and any other toilet items you may need! |
| 24 | wet tissues - wet ones for bathroom | called wet ones in India |
| 25 | some washing powder surf etc small | to wash clothes en route if needed |
| 26 | Nuts, raisins etc all mixed up | can be divided into small packets for daily use |
| 27 | Chocolates /Energy Bars/Amul cheese slices/tea bags | Carry some chocolates or energy bars to have on the way. Amul cheese slices are very useful and can be had as snacks when you are tired of sweets! |
| 28 | Sweets | for energy |
| 29 | Volini gel/ Bengay etc for aches and pains | or any other equivalent |
| 30 | Iodine or chlorine tablets for water purification | available in Kathmandu- this is important as mineral water bottles are expensive; for overseas visitors you can get iodine tablets in REI and other large outdoor outlets |
| 31 | Electral or any other rehydating salts | Carry a few small packets of electrolyte - useful to have mixed with water if dehydrated |
| 32 | some spare plastic bags to pack wet stuff, dirty clothes etc | |
| 33 | Book in case you want to read on the way and IPOd for music optional! | |
| 34 | Two small locks one for your duffle bag and one for your room in case the lodge does not have a lock | |
| 35 | Clothes line with hooks on either side in case you want to hang up your wet clothes to dry outside!! | |
| 36 | Super Glue | To patch up boots that may give way! |
| 37 | Face mask | For dust, cold winds etc available in kathmandu |
| 38 | Extra shoe laces | one pair |
Sujoy Das - India and Nepal
+919831054569
+977 9818037020
Lok Silwal - Nepal
+977 98510 22984
CANCELLATION POLICY The cancellation policy and refunds available are given below: 0-7 days before the start of the trek =75% 8 -15 days before the start of the trek = 50% 16-30 days before the start of the trek = 35% 31-45 days before the start of the trek = 25% 46 days and above = 15%
IN CASE OF LEAVING THE GROUP If due to illness or any other reason a client has to leave the group and go down or wait at a campsite for the group to pick him/her up on the way back, all expenses including lodging, fooding and any porter/guide related expenses if any are to be borne by the individual client over and above the trek fees paid for the trek. There are also no refunds for leaving a trek before completion.
HIRING OF PONIES ETC In the eventuality of a client needed the services of a pony to come down to lower altitudes, the cost of hiring the pony will be paid by the client.
CAMPSITES ON THE TREK The choice of campsites to be used on the trek will be decided by South Col and clients will have to stay at these designated campsites. Clients are not permitted to choose their own campsites on the route.
TREK ROUTE The trek route and day wise schedule will be fixed by South Col and will have to be followed by the client.
RISKS AND LIABILITY The trek is in a remote mountain area and has certain additional dangers and risks, some of which include: physical exertion for which the client should be prepared; weather extremes subject to sudden and unexpected changes; remoteness from normal medical services; evacuation difficulties. In the event of injury or illness South Col Expeditions (Sujoy Das) or its Staff can, at the clients cost arrange any medical treatment and emergency evacuation service as it or they deem necessary for the health and safety of the client. Waiver of liability form as per link attached to be signed by the client. https://www.southcol.com/waiver-of-liability-release/
EVACUATION BY HELICOPTER In the eventuality of not being covered by emergency helicopter evacuation insurance and an evacuation is considered necessary, the cost of the evacuation will be paid by the client in advance to the helicopter company/travel agent etc as deemed necessary.